Palatability enhancers comprising amino reactants and carbonyl compounds for use in cat food

Abstract

The present invention concerns a non-fatty palatability enhancer for use in cat food comprising an amino reactant having a ratio AAS/AAT of sulfur-containing free amino acids (AAS) to total free amino acids (AAT) from 1 to 12.8% by weight, and a carbonyl composition comprising more than 20% up to 100% by weight of monosaccharides and/or disaccharides and/or oligosaccharides.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A cat food non-fatty palatability enhancer comprising:
 at least one amino reactant consisting of amino acids, said amino reactant being characterized by a ratio AAS/AAT of sulfur-containing free amino acids (AAS) to total free amino acids (AAT) from 2.5 to 12.8% by weight; and   at least one carbonyl composition comprising more than 20% and up to 100% by weight of monosaccharides and/or disaccharides and/or oligosaccharides.   
     
     
         19 . The palatability enhancer of  claim 18 , wherein it is obtained upon thermally treating said at least one amino reactant and said at least one carbonyl composition. 
     
     
         20 . The palatability enhancer of  claim 18 , wherein said carbonyl composition is selected from the group consisting of monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, hydrolysis products thereof; glucose syrups, fructose syrups, caramel, and molasses; and combinations thereof; with the proviso that they comprise more than 20% and up to 100% by weight of monosaccharides and/or disaccharides and/or oligosaccharides. 
     
     
         21 . The palatability enhancer of  claim 18 , wherein said carbonyl composition comprises from 21 to 100% by weight of monosaccharides and/or disaccharides and/or oligosaccharides. 
     
     
         22 . The palatability enhancer of  claim 21 , wherein said carbonyl composition comprises from 23 to 100% by weight of monosaccharides and/or disaccharides and/or oligosaccharides. 
     
     
         23 . The palatability enhancer of  claim 22 , wherein said carbonyl composition comprises from 25 to 100% by weight of monosaccharides and/or disaccharides and/or oligosaccharides. 
     
     
         24 . The palatability enhancer of  claim 23 , wherein said carbonyl composition comprises from 28% to 100% by weight of monosaccharides and/or disaccharides and/or oligosaccharides. 
     
     
         25 . The palatability enhancer of  claim 19 , wherein thermal treatment comprises heating said at least one amino reactant and said at least one carbonyl composition at a temperature ranging from about 80 to about 200° C. for a period of time ranging from about 10 sec to about 210 min. 
     
     
         26 . A cat food palatability-enhancing composition comprising at least one palatability enhancer according to  claim 18 , in mixture with one or more palatability-enhancing ingredients. 
     
     
         27 . The palatability-enhancing composition of  claim 26 , wherein said palatability-enhancing ingredients are selected from the group consisting of inorganic phosphate compounds, animal digests, yeasts, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         28 . A method for preparing a cat food non-fatty palatability enhancer comprising:
 a) mixing in an aqueous medium at least one amino reactant consisting of amino acids, said amino reactant being characterized by a ratio AAS/AAT of sulfur-containing free amino acids (AAS) to total free amino acids (AAT) from 2.5 to 12.8% by weight, and at least one carbonyl composition comprising more than 20% and up to 100% by weight of monosaccharides and/or disaccharides and/or oligosaccharides; and   d) obtaining said palatability enhancer.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising at least one step before said step d) selected from:
 b) thermally treating the thus obtained mixture; and   c) drying the resulting mixture.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said step b) comprises heating said at least one amino reactant and said at least one carbonyl composition at a temperature ranging from about 80 to about 200° C. for a period of time ranging from about 10 sec to about 210 min. 
     
     
         31 . A method for preparing a cat food palatability-enhancing composition comprising:
 a) providing at least one palatability enhancer according to  claim 18 ;   b) mixing said at least one palatability enhancer with one or more palatability-enhancing ingredients; and   d) obtaining said palatability-enhancing composition.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising the step c) of drying the thus obtained mixture, before said step d). 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said palatability enhancer is prepared using a method comprising:
 a) mixing in an aqueous medium at least one amino reactant consisting of amino acids, said amino reactant being characterized by a ratio AAS/AAT of sulfur-containing free amino acids (AAS) to total free amino acids (AAT) from 2.5 to 12.8% by weight, and at least one carbonyl composition comprising more than 20% and up to 100% by weight of monosaccharides and/or disaccharides and/or oligosaccharides; and   d) obtaining said palatability enhancer.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein it further comprises, after said step a), a step a1) of drying said at least one palatability enhancer. 
     
     
         35 . A method for producing a cat food having enhanced palatability comprising:
 a) adding to a cat food preparation,
 (i) at least one palatability enhancer comprising:
 at least one amino reactant consisting of amino acids, said amino reactant being characterized by a ratio AAS/AAT of sulfur-containing free amino acids (AAS) to total free amino acids (AAT) from 2.5 to 12.8% by weight; and 
 at least one carbonyl composition comprising more than 20% and up to 100% by weight of monosaccharides and/or disaccharides and/or oligosaccharides; 
 
 (ii) and/or at least one palatability-enhancing composition according to  claim 26 ; and 
   b) obtaining a cat food having enhanced palatability.   
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 35 , wherein said palatability enhancer is prepared using a method comprising:
 a) mixing in an aqueous medium at least one amino reactant consisting of amino acids, said amino reactant being characterized by a ratio AAS/AAT of sulfur-containing free amino acids (AAS) to total free amino acids (AAT) from 2.5 to 12.8% by weight, and at least one carbonyl composition comprising more than 20% and up to 100% by weight of monosaccharides and/or disaccharides and/or oligosaccharides; and   d) obtaining said palatability enhancer.   
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 35 , wherein said palatability-enhancing composition is prepared using a method comprising:
 a) providing at least one palatability enhancer comprising:
 at least one amino reactant consisting of amino acids, said amino reactant being characterized by a ratio AAS/AAT of sulfur-containing free amino acids (AAS) to total free amino acids (AAT) from 2.5 to 12.8% by weight; and 
 at least one carbonyl composition comprising more than 20% and up to 100% by weight of monosaccharides and/or disaccharides and/or oligosaccharides; 
   b) mixing said at least one palatability enhancer with one or more palatability-enhancing ingredients; and   d) obtaining said palatability-enhancing composition.   
     
     
         38 . A cat food having enhanced palatability obtainable by a method according to  claim 35 . 
     
     
         39 . A kit for enhancing palatability of a cat food comprising at least the following components, in one or more containers in a single package:
 a) at least one palatability enhancer comprising:
 at least one amino reactant consisting of amino acids, said amino reactant being characterized by a ratio AAS/AAT of sulfur-containing free amino acids (AAS) to total free amino acids (AAT) from 2.5 to 12.8% by weight; and 
 at least one carbonyl composition comprising more than 20% and up to 100% by weight of monosaccharides and/or disaccharides and/or oligosaccharides; and/or 
   b) at least one palatability-enhancing composition according to  claim 26 .   
     
     
         40 . The kit according to  claim 39 , further comprising:
 c) at least one palatability-enhancing ingredient; and/or   d) at least one cat food ingredient.